Magic Monday

[ecosophia]

It's just shy of midnight, so here we go with a new Magic Monday. The picture is of Elias Ashmole, one of the great figures in the British tradition of alchemy. An extraordinary scholar interested in just about everything, he was among other things fascinated by alchemy, and put together and edited several important collections of English alchemical documents from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. A capable astrologer, he was also one of the first people known to history who joined a lodge of stonemasons without being in the building trades, and his initiation is thus one of the early mileposts in the emergence of Freemasonry. 

Ask me anything about occultism and I'll do my best to answer it. Any question received by midnight Monday Eastern time will get an answer. If you're in a hurry, or suspect you may be the 143,916th person to ask a question, please check out the very rough version 1.0 of The Magic Monday FAQ here.

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With that said, have at it!

***This Magic Monday is now closed -- and yes, this means you.  See you next week!***

Comments

A vision

[(Anonymous)]

Archdruid, is there any chance of you doing a book club series on the book A Vision by Yeats? I've found the book fascinating but have had a hard time fully understanding it and would greatly value your input!

Re: A vision

[ecosophia]

That's one of the possibilities I've been considering, because it's a neglected classic of occult philosophy, and it's also influenced me a great deal. Right now I'm trying to decide whether that or Dion Fortune's The Mystical Qabalah would be the best option for the next book club; whichever one doesn't come next will probably be right after that.

Re: A vision

[(Anonymous)]

One vote for the Mystical Quabbalah, which I own and can more or less understand, "yet have not won its deepest secrets."

Re: A vision

[(Anonymous)]

Another vote for The Mystical Qabalah, but so long as one follows the other, I can live with the wait. Thanks.

Re: A vision

[(Anonymous)]

A vote for Yeats here!

Re: A vision

[slclaire]

I'll put in a vote for Yeats, because I've been reading the Cos. Doc. and would prefer the next book club be a book by a different author.

Re: A vision

[(Anonymous)]

Another vote for the Mystical Qabalah!

Re: A vision

[esingletary]

While I’m highly anticipating A Vision, I do wonder if, since it ties into the traditional teachings both Yeats and Fortune drew on, The Mystical Qabalah might act as a good buffer between the two books that could help contextualize both of them in potentially helpful ways.

Re: A vision

[thuley]

YES!

I've tried reading this book and got pretty thoroughly lost 1/4th of the way through, so you've got my vote.

Incidentally, there's a great audiobook of Mystical Qabalah available for those who spend a lot of time commuting.

Re: A vision

[(Anonymous)]

Another vote for The Mystical Qabalah. I've read it cover to cover and find the straightforward style refreshing. But there's quite clearly a lot more to unpack than a first-time reader can take in.

Re: A vision

[(Anonymous)]

A vote for Yeats here. I've not taken part in a book club here yet, but would certainly do so for this.

Re: A vision

[(Anonymous)]

Yeats vote here too! I've read it, but am sure I missed so much.

Re: A vision

[amritarosa]

Another vote for Yeats!